Inspiration and achievements celebrated at Nursing Convocation

Villanova, PA, May 17, 2008 — “You are our inspiration,” M. Louise Fitzpatrick, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN told the College of Nursing’s Class of 2008 at its Convocation. The Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor was acknowledging the accomplishments of the degree candidates from the undergraduate and graduate programs. The College held its annual event May 17, 2008 at the St. Thomas of Villanova Church for an appreciative crowd of family and friends.

At Convocation, individual bachelor’s and master’s honors were awarded for service to the College, as well as for academic and leadership achievements. Those acknowledged are leaders in the College, on campus and within the nursing profession; board members and volunteers for nursing organizations and other activities; members of the international nursing honor society, and students pursuing research interests. After hearing the achievements of the degree candidates while enrolled in such a rigorous academic environment, University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A. remarked, “In a very real way you exemplify what Villanova is: Unitas, Veritas, Caritas.”

During the ceremony, all degree candidates from December 2007 and May 2008 were recognized by name, including 90 B.S.N. (bachelor of science in nursing) students, five registered nurses who completed their B.S.N., 47 M.S.N. (master of science in nursing) students, three post-master’s students and one Ph.D. student. That PhD student made this year notable as the University’s f irst awarding of the Ph.D. degree in Nursing. In 2004, the College implemented the program to prepare teacher-scholars for careers in academic settings. Its first degree candidate, Bonnie Baloga-Altieri, Ph.D., R.N., CNAA-BC, of Skillman, N.J., an administrator in an academic health center, received a standing ovation at Convocation when this milestone was recognized by Dean Fitzpatrick. Dr. Baloga-Altieri was among the first cohort of students to start in the new program. She successfully defended her dissertation “Comparison of Staff Nurse Perceptions of Nurse Executive and Nurse Manager Leadership in Magnet and non-Magnet Hospitals” on March 25. “I am honored to have a part in the history of the College of Nursing at Villanova,” says Dr. Baloga-Altieri. In the following two months, two more doctoral students have successfully defended their dissertations adding to the scholarly body of knowledge emanating from the College of Nursing.